Traditional Owners and conservation groups have met for the Healthy Rivers Forums in Wadonga and Swan Hill to share cultural values of the river systems and to start discussions on the issues of non-compliance to the legislation of the Murray Darling Basin Plan. This was brought to their attention at the time of the broadcast of the ABC Four Corner report 'Pumped: Who is benefiting from the billions spent on the Murray-Darling? in July.
At the time these forums were held, Ken Matthews AO released the Interim Report 'The Independent investigation into NSW water management and compliance' prompted by the ABC Four Corners report.
The findings are based on the allegations of non compliance of the 2012 NSW Water Sharing Plan for the Barwon-Murray Darling basin and stakeholder's non-compliance of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority licensing and metering entitlements.
The investigation also includes the purchase of water with tax payers funds for environmental purposes and the pumping of water from the river system for irrigation at restricted times.
"Traditional Owners on the Murray Darling water basin hope the changes implemented from the recommendations in the report have water planners and government looking at the river systems as a whole and not a boundary region on the map."
Ken Matthew AO has highlighted that individual inquiries are being made on meter tampering and an investigation into the allegations made from an audio recording of a teleconference between senior NSW Government officials and irrigation groups where Government information was illegally shared.
Nari Nari man Rene Woods Chair of the Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nation (MILDRIN) says "What happens in the north when it comes to the 'taking of water' impacts an entire river system that is dying because of the lack of water."
"Compliance of the Murray Darling Basin Plan is a real issue and a Royal Commission would brings all states to the table, making sure the basin plan figures are correct." says Woods.
MILDRIN welcomes the call for a 'systemic fix from the recommendations in the report. Rene Woods says 'Traditional Owners are urging on both a state and federal level that government include them in the decision making and future planning of the allocation of water.'
"Traditional Owners on the Murray Darling water basin hope the changes implemented from the recommendations in the 'Independent investigation into NSW water management and compliance' have water planners and government looking at the river systems as a whole and not a boundary region on the map."
Share